Device fob checking the sale of



June 23, 1953 c. L. LOUTHAN 2,643,168

DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE SALE OF TICKETS Filed Dec. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l CLISSOLDE L. LOUTHAN Snuentor aLB M Gttornegs June 23, 1953 c. L. LOUTHAN 2,643,168

DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE SALE OF TICKETS Filed Dec. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 20122 3maentor CLISSOLDE L. LOUTHAN Gttornegs Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE SALE OF TICKETS 6 Claims.

This present device is an electric interlock system for use in addition to the usual ticket vending equipment of the electrical type and is arranged so as to prevent any misunderstandings between the buyer of a ticket and the clerk who is selling the ticket.

There are many places, especially places of amusement or places where large quantities of transportation tickets are sold quickly, where a machine of the type of this present invention could be profitably employed. However an outstanding example of the need of such a device is the selling of race track betting tickets and the present invention is described as applied to such equipment. In the selling of race track betting tickets a large number of tickets are sold in a ver short period and the buyer of the same may not have full command of the English language, or he may have speech impediment, or due to the excitement of the moment, he may not express himself clearly to the ticket seller. As a result of such misunderstanding many arguments occur. These are time-consuming, they detract from the orderliness of the race track organization and require the constant attendance of peace ofiicers to prevent unpleasantness. This present equipment is to prevent misunderstanding and therefore to achieve a very useful purpose.

In using this present equipment, when the buyer approaches a ticket selling window it is not necessary for him to converse with the seller of the tickets. He merely presses an appropriately numbered button on his side of the wicket. This will light a light under the wicket indicating to the vendor the number of the ticket desire The vendor then presses a push button similarly numbered and contained in the same removable panel with the button which the customer has pushed and the ticket of the proper number is delivered. An electrically interlocking system is provided so that after one push button on the customer side is depressed the seller cannot depress any button on his side of the wicket except the one corresponding to the customers choice and cause the electrical impulse to flow to the ticket vending machine. Consequently only the desired numbered ticket can be vended.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide an interlocking signaling and ticket vending control means which will insure that the buyer obtains only the numbered ticket corresponding to the button he has depressed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an interlocking electrical system which may be used at any point where tickets are sold in large numbers and where the buying is normally done in a very short period by people who are hurrying.

A further object of this present invention is to provide an electrical signaling and interlocking means which makes conversation with the seller of tickets unnecessary and places the burden of selecting the proper ticket on the buyer so that no argument should ensue on the transaction.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical ticket selling window and showing the present equipment in the preferred arrangement in association with the wicket of the ticket selling station;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of each individual control button panel;

Figure 3 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections required in a unit involving ten different types of tickets.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings the numeral l9 designates generally the parimutuel betting window as found at most horse race tracks in this country. At any convenient space within window I8 must be a ticket vending means such as the outwardly extending chute which I have shown at 52. Protruding above the counter top 24 of window I?) are a plurality of buttons and lights as shown in Figure 1 and the usual grill work as shown at [6. Below counter top i l I have provided space 18 to carry the electrical conduits, and while all electrical fixtures may be secured within the fixed counter top [4, I have shown them secured to a removable panel l9, which is set Within the counter top so as to make all parts readily accessible for minor repairs or replacement as a unit.

A series of numbered buttons 26 protruding from the counter top, outside the grill area, control a corresponding number of electrical switches 22. Switches 22 are built within housings 26, each of which also contains a solenoid 24. I have shown ten of these units since most tracks run a maximum of ten horses in one race but more units may be installed at the larger race tracks or for other uses. A series oi incandescent lamps 28, which must be visible from both sides of the betting window, is shown directly beneath the grill work l6. Each of these lights 28 is connected in series to one of the switches 22 and therefore the number of lights 28 and the number of buttons 26 protruding from counter top I4 must be the same. Extending above the counter top M on the inner side of grill work 15 is a second series of ten numbered buttons 38. Each of these buttons controls a two-way switch S2 which is contained in a housing Within this housing 36 is also a solenoid 345 which acts upon switch 32. in one phase of the vending operation. In addition to these buttons 30, behind the grillwork it, I have provided two additional buttons 38 and .8. These buttons are not critical to the operation of my device but are used only occasionally when arguments arise. Button 38 controls a grounding circuit while button 45 controls a circuit breaker for the entire selector system.

Method of operation When a bettor desires to place a bet on ahorse while attending the race at a race track he goes to the correct betting window at the specified time and exchanges his money for a ticket. The ticket vending machine 42 is pre-set to stamp the date, number of the race, etc., with only the number of the horse to vary on the different tickets. For example if the bettor wishes to wage $2.00 on the number four horse to win he goes to the correct window, gives the operator his two dollars and presses the button 20 which is numbered four. When the button is depressed the electrical current entering on conduit 56 passes 1 the wrong button, the light will show him his mistake immediately and he may extinguish the light by removing his finger and then depressing the correct selector button 20.

Now with the operator seeing the number and light lit and having received the wager, he has only to press the number four button on the inner side of the grill IE to issue the ticket. With the correct button so depressed the current fiows as before up to switch 32 but with this switch in the depressed position the current fiows through the switch 32 to conduit 58 and then through the solenoids 60, 34 and 24 from which it goes into conduit 62 leading to the ticket machine 42. With the ticket machine grounded to the power lead 48 a circuit is completed and a two dollar ticket is issued on the horse number four.

With current flowing through the solenoid 60 the related switch 54 is opened thereby preventing a second light from being lighted. Solenoids 24 and 34 retain the contact made by switches 22 and 32 until the current ceases to flow. Built within the ticket stamping machine is a timing device which may be set for a time limit such as live seconds. This timer would keep the current flowing through the stamping machine after the ticket has been issued for this pre-set time, allowing the bettor to step away from the window before the light is extinguished. Since the bettor is the only one able to light the light 20 and 4 this light remains lit after the ticket is vended arguments are practically eliminated.

If, however, an argument should arise within the pre-set time the operator has only to press the button 38 thereby shunting out the ticket machine and its timing unit by means of shunting arm 64. This shunting arm 64 is held in the closed position by means of solenoid 66 thereby retaining the condition established by'the bettor until any disagreement has been settled. When the argument has been finally settled the operator then presses the button 40 which opens switch M eliminating all current flow, thus releasing all solenoid held switches and making the machine available for further betting upon the release of button 43. Conductors 10 leading from conduits 62 and conductor 68 leading to the power source 48 go to a remote indicator usual in the totalizer room of the race track, so that all bets may be recorded and betting odds adjusted accordingly.

As may be seen in the diagram of Figure 3, switch 22 controls the electrical power to switch 32, therefore the operator has no control over the lighting of the lights 28. Since the switches 22 control the power to switches 32, switches 32 are dead until a button 20 is depressed which lights the corresponding light 28 and provides power to the corresponding switch 32 only.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of a device for checking the sale of tickets.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. An electrically operated vending device, comprising: a first plurality of manually operable electrical switches; a second plurality of manually operable electrical switches; a source of electricity; said source being connected to said first switches; a plurality of electrically operable visual signals; each of said first switches being connected in its operating position to one of said visual signals and each of said visual signals being connected to one of said second switches; a common return conduit having a plurality of breaking switches, one of said breaking switches being matched with each of said second switches, said return conduit being connected with said source, each of said second switches being connected in its rest position to said return conduit on the opposite side of said breaking switches from said source; a first solenoid for holding each of said first switches in an operating position, a second solenoid for holding each of said second switches in an operating position, and a third solenoid for moving each of said breaking switches to an inoperative position; an electrically operable ticket vending machine having a series of vending circuits operable to vend different types of tickets; each of said second switches being connected in its operating position to its matching first, second and third sclenoids and to one of said vending circuits of said vending machine; said vending machine being connected to said source; said vending machine having a timer permitting current to flow through said machine for only a pre-set time; a shunting line having one end connected to said source and having its other end interposed between said vending machine and said solenoids and a manually operable shunting switch in said shunting line; and means for breaking the flow of current through said device.

2. An electrically operated vending device, comprising: a first plurality of manually operable electrical switches; a second plurality of manually operable electrical switches; a source of electricity; said source being connnected to said first switches; a plurality of electrically operable visual signals; each of said first switches being connected in its operating position to one of said visual signals and each of said visual signals being connected to one of said second switches; a common return conduit having a plurality of breaking switches, one of said breaking switches being matched with each of said second switches, said return conduit being connected with said source, each of said second switches being connected in its rest position to said return conduit on the opposite side of said breaking switches from said source; a first solenoid for holding each of said first switches in an operating position, a second solenoid for holding each of said second switches in an operating position, and a third solenoid for moving each of said breaking switches to an inoperative position; an electrically operable ticket vending machine having a series of vending circuits operable to vend different types of tickets; each of said second switches being cormnected in its operating p-osition to its matching first, second and third solenoids and to one of said vending circuits of said vending machine; said vending machine being connected to said source.

3. An electrically operated vending device, comprising: a plurality of electrically operable visual signals; a vending machine having a series of vending circuits operable to vend different types of tickets; a first plurality of manually operable electrical switches; a source of electricity; each of said first switches being connected to said source and each of said first switches being also connected in its operating position to one of said. visual signals; a second plurality of manually operable electrical switches, each of said second switches being associated with one of said first switches to direct current, flowing through that first switch also through one of said vending circuits of said vending machine when the associated switches are in operating position; means to render other second switches inoperative when a first of said second switches is in operating position; said vending machine having a timer permitting current to flow through said machine for only a pre-set time; and manually operable means to render said timer inoperative.

4. An electrically operated vending device, comprising: a plurality of electrically operable visual signals; a vending machine having a series of vending circuits operable to vend different types of tickets; a first plurality of manually operable electrical switches; a source of electricity; each of said first switches being connected to said source and each of said first switches being also connected in its operating position to one of said visual signals; a second plurality of manually operable electrical switches, each of said second switches being connected to one of said first switches to direct current, flowing through that first switch, through one of said vending circuits of said vending machine when the associated switches are in operating position.

5. An electrically operated vending device, comprising: first manually operable electrical means having a series of primary switches operable by a vendee to indicate by visual signal a choice among a plurality of vendible species; a vending machine having a series of vending circuits operable to vend different types of vendible species; a second manually operable electrical means having a series of secondary switches, each connected with one of said primary switches and operable by a vendor to transmit said choice of such vendee to the appropriate vending circuit of said vending machine, while maintaining said vis ual signal; said vending machine having a timer permitting current to flow through said machine for only a pre-set time; and manually operable means to render said timer inoperative.

6. An electrically operated vending device, coir rising: first manually operable electrical means having a series of primary switches operable by a vendee to indicate by visual signal a choice among a plurality of vendible species; a vending machine having a series of vending circuits operable to vend difierent types of vendible species; second manually operable electrical means having a series of secondary switches, each connected with one of said primary switches and operable by a vendor to transmit said choice of such vendee to the appropriate vending circuit of said vending machine, while maintaining said visual signal, said second electrical means being inoperable to initiate vending by one of said secondary switches unless the connected primary switch has been operated.

CLISSOLDE L. LOUTI-IAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,362 Pfatischer Jan. 30, 1900 994,218 Thrasher June 6, 1911 

